When you compare the two rosters it is easy to see where the Oilers fall short. They aren't as experienced as the Kings, and they severely lack the size and overall heaviness of the Kings. Dustin Brown is one of the smaller Kings forwards in stature, but he plays big, and he's one of the best hitters in the game. Same as Mike Richards.

The Kings have a lot of size, but even their "smaller" players play a physical style. The Oilers can't match the Kings' size or abrasiveness, so they need to play a fast-paced, up tempo style to try and defeat the Kings.

**Also for those who keep suggesting the Oilers are an average team in size because one article listed them at an average of 203 pounds. Don't believe everything you read. Add up the numbers above. The Oilers average weight is 196.2 pounds, while the Kings are 209.9. That is an average difference of almost 15 pounds a player. Stop suggesting the Oilers aren't small. They are, and not only are they small, very few of them play big. That isn't a knock, that is just who they are and management will need to adjust the roster accordingly moving forward. The Oilers blueline isn't heavy enough and collectively they lack the aggression needed to shut down a good team.***

It is unfair to compare the Oilers to a team that won the Cup18 months ago, but you can see how to properly construct a Cup contender, when you look at the make up of the Kings and see so many different style of players. The Kings win because they have many skilled players, but also because they have diversity throughout their lineup.

The major difference is the size and strength of the Kings blueline compared to the Oilers. How can the Oilers expect their D-men to break up a cycle when they are so slight. You can have one or two smaller D-men, but you can't have five of them and expect to compete and against heavy teams. The Oilers D-men will need to use significantly more energy just to try and compete with the larger Kings, especially when they are battling for position in front of the net and in the corner.

It is unrealistic for the Oilers management and coaches to expect their team to defeat the Kings. They Oilers worked hard against the Bruins and Ducks, but ultimately they couldn't wear them down. That theme is likely to repeat itself tonight.

Their identity is they want to play with the puck, and they will degenerate into one-on-one play if you shut them down. If you ask anyone around the league they will say they are highly skilled up front, not so much on the backend and their goaltending is iffy.

They have too many of the same players. That is their identity and it isn’t a winning one.The problem is, even if they play really well a lot of their guys are all doing the same thing. They have a lot of dancers and not many singers. You can’t ask the players to change that; it is up to management.

You can’t ask Gagner to rattle someone’s cage and run people over on the forecheck. Sam is what Sam is. Yakupov is what he is. Nugent-Hopkins is what Nugent-Hopkins is. You can’t ask them to be different. You can ask them to try and do a few more things to round out their game, but they can’t be what they’re not. You can’t ask Boyd Gordon to anchor the powerplay, but you can ask him to win faceoffs and be physical.

If you put enough of those pieces together and they aren’t the same pieces, then you can build your identity.

I've said essentially the same thing for the past few seasons. I understand it isn't as easy as saying, "we need to get this type of player," and then magically acquiring him. MacTavish did acquire three players this past summer who add a different dimension to the Oilers in Perron, Gordon and Ference, but MacTavish will need to add at least another five or six before the make over is complete.

The other glaring weakness is the blueline. Ferraro said this about their D corps.

You would like to have a couple big physical guys, because there are not enough guys who make you stay in the battle. They don’t separate opposing players from the puck. There are too many second plays that hang around on the forecheck.

You have to define what you are. They have a bunch of tweeners on the blueline. You can have one or two of them, but you can’t have five of them. Without question that is their biggest area of concern moving forward, and the way they are going to have to correct that is to make a pecking order amongst the forwards.

They have to figure out which ones stay and which ones are lower down, and if they are lower down that doesn’t mean someone else doesn’t want them, and wouldn’t drool over them, because they probably have a part you want. But you have to step off the curb and say, “I’m going to move one of these highly skilled forwards.

And if the highly skilled forward scores 35 goals somewhere else, but I get a solid stay-at-home D-man who scores 15 points, and that is what we need, then I don’t care that the other guy gets 35, because I just put a piece in the puzzle that makes us a better team.

Again, I completely agree with Ferraro. I've written many articles stating that eventually MacTavish will need to make a tough decision and move a few of his skilled forwards. Not because they aren't good, but because he has too many of the same style of forwards.

When you watch tonight's game, watch closely at how much harder the Oilers forwards need to work to sustain a cycle. They have to pay a price to keep in the Kings zone. Then compare that to how easy it is for the Kings to maintain possession in the Oilers zone.

The Oilers do make some bad decisions with the puck in their own zone, but often they are working extremely hard, but the reality is that often they are physically overmatched by opposing forwards.

LINEUP...

Hemsky returns to the lineup after Eakins decided Hemsky needed a game off to rest his sore ribs. Hemsky and Regehr will likely renew their rivalry. Hemsky never shied away during their battles when Regehr was in Calgary, and I doubt he will tonight.

The more I watch Arcobello the more I like every aspect of his game. He sees the ice very well, makes smart decisions with the puck, is solid defensively, he is always in the battle and he plays physical.

Edmonton is 6-3-2- in their last 11 visits to LA...

WHAT WILL WE SEE...

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers play a competitive game but lose 3-2 in OT.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Jarret Stoll scores for the Kings. Former Oilers always find ways to light the lamp against the Blue and Orange.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: After getting hit hard five or six times by Ben Lovejoy in Anaheim, Taylor Hall decides to initiate contact rather than recieve it, and he delivers are levels Martinez early in the first period. This sets the tone for a surprisingly physical game. When Hall returns to the bench, the camera show Arcobello congratulating him on a big hit, and Hall says to Arcobello, "You can't be the only forward who hits; we need to help you out."

DAY 13...MONTH OF GIVING...

Thank you to Kyle, Sammy's Restaurant and Victor for bidding on our packages yesterday, and to Etelligent Solutions and Crystal Glass for donating them.

You and three friends will dine with Eskimos GM Ed Hervey, quarterback Mike Reilly and Eskimos Wall of Honour inductee, current head coach of the U of A Golden Bears and outstanding story teller Chris Morris. I'll also be there, but mainly to fill up your wine glasses.

You can bid by calling 780.444.1260 or 1.800.243.1945 between 2-6 p.m. today.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

It must be obvious to us all now that the Oil powers-that-be certainly see things much different than we do.

Gagner isn't going anywhere. MacT would undermine himself by doing anything other than trading him (which they won't/can't because of the NTC). They won't buy him out because they'd lose him for nothing. The won't send him to OKC because they risk losing him for nothing.

Shot in the foot.

Roster spot IS something, 4.8mil/yr savings IS something, one less defensive liability IS something!!!!!

whatever it takes to get a top pairing dman in here, preferably a bonafide number 1, we have to do. We NEED an upper echelon d-man on this team the year that Nurse steps in, he'll be a much better player because of it and we in turn will be a better team for years. really, no one but Nuge is untouchable in my eyes

whatever it takes to get a top pairing dman in here, preferably a bonafide number 1, we have to do. We NEED an upper echelon d-man on this team the year that Nurse steps in, he'll be a much better player because of it and we in turn will be a better team for years. really, no one but Nuge is untouchable in my eyes

As I've said before, we don't need a Chara or Weber but a couple of mean SOBs(ala Don Jackson,Greene,Beukeboom)type guys BUT more importantly an aggressive, mean 2C like Ott would be just as nice..

The first couple of times it happened there were lots of us having trouble with the servers but now it's just f^ckin annoying...come on Wanye/Sir Kent we can be banned for explicit language do something about it(you both can't be as sh*tfaced as I am)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that some tough, experienced D is essential to not only tide us over until the arrivial of our D prospects but also to guide the future blueliners, help them become solid pros. The lack of vet leadership is a part of the reason Hall, Ebs etal have become fire-drillish, the other part seems character related.
The experienced blueliners needed don't necessarily have to be top 10 guys league-wide, nor do they have to be 25 years old. Weber types cost a lot while guys a little older on struggling teams would cost less to acquire. I'm thinking Giordano or Kulikov rather than the White Whale. I am not advocating KHL bandaids, we need real NHLers in the mold of Spacek. Oh, also, buy out Gagner. To trade him we would have to tie a $50 to his antennae(something car radios used to need).

No way in hell does Bryz re-sign here. Why would he. Cap going up next year more teams will have space than this year. Puts up an awesome game again and his team loses. Mask aint painted cause he ain't staying. Was Smid traded so bryz can get an audition to sign with a good team next year?

MacT is brilliant. NTC/promise to gags. Perron deal may have been a complete fluke. 4 year contract to Eakins. MacT is the best sorry i ever said otherwise.

Didnt watch the game and thank f'in god I didn't. no way am i gonna help ratings for their games when it is the same crap. Eakins said in post game that if they would have scored earlly in the first it would have been a better result. What a genius. Scoring will help win??? Awesomeness

It's not the weight or how heavy you are, it's the grit and strength of the players. If they have the will and commitment to play hard and good conditioning they can win battles. Look at Dustin Penner, he was heavy and did nothing here, now he's plus +19 leading the NHL.
We don't have the right coaching staffs to get these players to the next level. Look at the Avs, they are winning because they play as a team, same team that almost last in league 2012.
Another shut out lost, that's 5 in 36 games, not an Oilers tradition, shoot the pucks. I can show you a small guy out wrestle a bigger guy any day.

It's not the weight or how heavy you are, it's the grit and strength of the players. If they have the will and commitment to play hard and good conditioning they can win battles. Look at Dustin Penner, he was heavy and did nothing here, now he's plus +19 leading the NHL.
We don't have the right coaching staffs to get these players to the next level. Look at the Avs, they are winning because they play as a team, same team that almost last in league 2012.
Another shut out lost, that's 5 in 36 games, not an Oilers tradition, shoot the pucks. I can show you a small guy out wrestle a bigger guy any day.

Umm, Penner is playing with Getzlaf and Perry on a good team. He was playing with Horcoff and Hemsky on a bad team. Don't read too much into his +/- and blaming anybody other than Getzlaf and Perry for propping up that stat.

As Ferraro and Gregor and most people in North America have put together, this Oilers defense is brutal. I love watching them reverse the puck, literally until they give it away. It has honestly become comical this year (in a sad kind of way).

What is frustrating is they have played decent enough in the offense zone to beat Boston, Anaheim and LA last night, yet found different ways to lose them. A few times last night I saw the Oilers actually cycle the Kings for entire shifts. Had Smytty and/or Hemmer tucked in their open net chances, it was a different game. But then again, IF management made bold moves, most of this team's issues would have been addressed.

This management group has now officially let the team come out of losses with "small victories" because it is all they have known in their pro careers. Almost like giving participation awards FFS.

"We showed again we can play with this team... Two mistakes ended up in our net. Other than that we played a good game." - Jordan Eberle

This right here is why we'll never compete for a playoff spot never mind a Stanley Cup. Playing a "good game" or moral f$!:; victories dont put points on the standings. Bryz won't sign next year. Mark my words. Smart man though, he's increasing his own value and will get signed at a nice sunny destination and Deadmonton once again will just be a farm place to get players ready to go and plat with real NHL teams.

The first couple of times it happened there were lots of us having trouble with the servers but now it's just f^ckin annoying...come on Wanye/Sir Kent we can be banned for explicit language do something about it(you both can't be as sh*tfaced as I am)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah it's happened to me once before too, I had a huge commented quoted in the post too. But come on, every time he posts something he bombs out about seven pages.

Gagner's NTC doesn't kick in until start of next season...so there's still hope.

Exactly. As I went to bed last night with Gagner rage on the brain, a Gagner-Dubnyk-[insert prospect here] for Travis Hamonic [insert random plug] and Kevin Poulin deal floated through my mind. We can still dream, right?

Comes back to creating an identity, building a player group around it and having a Coach that can get the players to execute it.

LA's whole deal just looks very solid - impressive. Easy to see how they generate consistent results and what a team to watch when things rachet up 2 or 3 notches for the playoffs. They will have to get their pp going to win when it counts but otherwise what a money team.

One of the several things that stood out to me was the difference in threats from the point - between the 2 teams. LA blasting left and right and the Oilers throwing the odd wrist shot at the net or in the corner.

It's more than they have guys who can shoot and we dont - which is partly true.

LA - is solid in the middle and back end, with good size and skill to handle low threats, without a lot of help from their wingers. LA wingers can actually cover the points and be in position to retrieve loose pucks or provide outlet pass support, to get the puck out of their end.

Oilers - are not solid in the middle and back end, so low threats are not handled nearly as well. To compensate - Eakins has whatever version of the swarm in now in play, which includes our wingers, sucked in toward the net, in the crease and even behind our net. At it's worse (the Kings first goal) its almost comical, where everybody ends up running around trying to compensate.

Dont anyone kid themselves, size matters and has to be a part of an Oiler identity that gets back into the playoffs. Not saying we have to be as big as the Kings, but bigger - in certain critical positions is a must.

Lander is a big upgrade on Ganger at this point. Bench Gagner 10-15 games and give Lander another real good look.

Call up some D from OKC and see what we got there as well. Can't hurt to give away some of these guys if they get picked up on waivers, the season is a bust anyway.

Both the Schultz boys stink it up almost every night, Belov and Larsen are learning but they could do that in the AHL as well. Let's see what we got down there in 10 - 15 games of NHL before the trade deadline is here and you have no info to go on.

Lander is a big upgrade on Ganger at this point. Bench Gagner 10-15 games and give Lander another real good look.

Call up some D from OKC and see what we got there as well. Can't hurt to give away some of these guys if they get picked up on waivers, the season is a bust anyway.

Both the Schultz boys stink it up almost every night, Belov and Larsen are learning but they could do that in the AHL as well. Let's see what we got down there in 10 - 15 games of NHL before the trade deadline is here and you have no info to go on.

Judge Eakins' ability to coach an NHL team when he gets one to coach. And you don't know what orders he is getting from KLost via MacT, or from MacT directly. If Eakins can't pick his own assistants you think he can make all other decisions?

Also, i think Gagner is just not a very smart guy. Hasn't learned a thing in the years he has been here .

1. I thought the oilers displayed a lot of "Try" in that game. For the most part, people were working hard and doing their best.

2. It seems silly to pick on 1 player, but wtf was sam doing for both those goals? #1, he watched the entire thing happen around him as he spun around puck watching instead of covering a man. #2, he gave the puck directly to LA and the next time an Oiler would touch the puck, it was Bryz shoveling it out of the net. Brutal.

3. Aside from the big hits, one thing i really noticed LA doing well, was just getting in the way. The Oilers had to skate faster and further just to get around LA guys in their pursuit of the puck. Sometimes it was borderline interference. No one ever has to skate around the Oilers, they skate THROUGH the Oilers. This is where size comes in. It's not a hit. Its not grit. It's sheer physics. I'm bigger than you so if you want to get to the puck, you better find a way to get around me.

4. Pinning a guy out of the play wasn't happening by the Oilers. The odd soft body check was the most you would see from anyone not named Ference or Belov (Or even Petry). Those 2-3 guys are the only guys that seemed to consistently get in the way of LA skaters. No one else did. The Oilers need to pin guys for a solid couple seconds every time. Even a half second makes a huge difference because it causes a guy to be late to a puck race.

Judge Eakins' ability to coach an NHL team when he gets one to coach. And you don't know what orders he is getting from KLost via MacT, or from MacT directly. If Eakins can't pick his own assistants you think he can make all other decisions?

Also, i think Gagner is just not a very smart guy. Hasn't learned a thing in the years he has been here .

I guess that I agree with your post. It is unfortunate to have an inexperienced coach when you are building a team .

Exactly. As I went to bed last night with Gagner rage on the brain, a Gagner-Dubnyk-[insert prospect here] for Travis Hamonic [insert random plug] and Kevin Poulin deal floated through my mind. We can still dream, right?

Did you forget macT promised him that even though the NTC isn't in for this season he promised he wouldnt trade gags. hehehe The Oilers are the best comedy on TV

I agree that Gagner is failing miserably as a second line centre. It's time to move him to the wing with Arco catering the second line and play Lander on the fourth line. Gagner might do better with simpler defensive responsibilities on the wing.

Even with blocked shots by the D., Kings-10 , and Oilers 3. No wonder their guy gets a shot out.

Speaking of shots.. Hall had 7 shots which is great only if he would score one of those.
The troubling part was that Nuge and Eberle only had one shot each.. and this is from guys who played close to 23 minutes of ice time.. terrible.

I'd say it's more of the other clubs not wratching it up themselves to play the lowly Oilers . Our goalies occasionally get/keep us in some games and make up for our continual blunders . Rarely do I see us out chance the opposition over the course of a game . Moral victory staying close is not really a victory to begin with .